Car brands with true identity
Discussion
Following a comment in the Ferrari 4x4 thread about brands loosing their identity, I wondered about what brands remained true to their historical message and heritage?
Some of the worst to loose themselves recently would be BMW (Front wheel drives and 4x4 cross over coupes?, Peugeot (The drive of your life?), Land Rover (Chrome bling mobiles?)
So who is still there flying their flags?
Lotus?
Jaguar?
Possibly the only ones I can think of.
Some of the worst to loose themselves recently would be BMW (Front wheel drives and 4x4 cross over coupes?, Peugeot (The drive of your life?), Land Rover (Chrome bling mobiles?)
So who is still there flying their flags?
Lotus?
Jaguar?
Possibly the only ones I can think of.
SAAB and Lamborghini are the names that sprang to mind for me. It appears that genuinely quirky brands are slowly moving into the mainstream as sales get squeezed though, and that's a shame.
Of course it could be argued that Toyota is staying true to its original philosophy by producing the bland Auris and Avensis!
Of course it could be argued that Toyota is staying true to its original philosophy by producing the bland Auris and Avensis!
Lotus - I guess it depends if you think Lotus = lightweight cars or Lotus = excellent handling, responsive sports cars. If the first then the new cars due in 2015 will disappoint. If the second then they're remaining true to that. Chapman always wanted to take the firm upmarket, so they are remaining true to that.
Caterham
Can't see them selling out with a 4x4/MPV 
Caterham
Can't see them selling out with a 4x4/MPV The Corvette has remained true to its roots and arguably Chevrolet given thaey have always been about providing the family man with cheap transport - it just happens that straight sixes and V8s were the way to go at the time.
Porsche to half an extent in that they still make cars with engines predoninantly towards the rear.
Porsche to half an extent in that they still make cars with engines predoninantly towards the rear.
E55 Max said:
kambites said:
Lotus perhaps used to, but under the new management it doesn't seem likely to continue.
I guess Mercedes are still predominantly aimed at the luxury car market, even if they do produce funny little hatchbacks as well.
CLC Has now been discontinuedI guess Mercedes are still predominantly aimed at the luxury car market, even if they do produce funny little hatchbacks as well.
mat205125 said:
E55 Max said:
kambites said:
Lotus perhaps used to, but under the new management it doesn't seem likely to continue.
I guess Mercedes are still predominantly aimed at the luxury car market, even if they do produce funny little hatchbacks as well.
CLC Has now been discontinuedI guess Mercedes are still predominantly aimed at the luxury car market, even if they do produce funny little hatchbacks as well.
doogz said:
None.
But the next 1er will be. Or, at least, some of them will be.
Let's wait see if that actually happens, as what I have read is that,But the next 1er will be. Or, at least, some of them will be.
" The 1er will remain a rear-wheel drive vehicle and shares the same L7 architecture as the next 3 series. At the same time, the L7 has the flexible firewall location geometry that will allow it to accommodate FWD, RWD, or AWD models."
Alfa Romeo still stick to the philosophy they established in the early '50s when they realised they couldn't afford to be the Italian Bentley any more. OK, so it's not what they were founded back in 1910 to do, but as far as sticking to your design brief - family cars penned by design houses, practical but fun to drive - they've always maintained it with the exception of the Arna (which it could be argued isn't even an Alfa, but a Nissan with an Alfa engine).
Jaguar - Grace, Pace & Space. Even the X-Type did this, and there's never been a truly ugly Jaguar - even the XJS was massaged into a looker by the early '90s.
Aston Martin - possibly. Again, like Alfa Romeo they had a change of direction after the war. Prior to the '40s they made MG rivals. It was the purchase of Lagonda that took them upmarket but I can't think of an Aston Martin that hasn't deviated from the 'sporting GTs of the highest quality' recipe since. That said, their thoroughbred nature has taken a bit of a kicking with the engines in the DB7 and AMV8.
Jaguar - Grace, Pace & Space. Even the X-Type did this, and there's never been a truly ugly Jaguar - even the XJS was massaged into a looker by the early '90s.
Aston Martin - possibly. Again, like Alfa Romeo they had a change of direction after the war. Prior to the '40s they made MG rivals. It was the purchase of Lagonda that took them upmarket but I can't think of an Aston Martin that hasn't deviated from the 'sporting GTs of the highest quality' recipe since. That said, their thoroughbred nature has taken a bit of a kicking with the engines in the DB7 and AMV8.
Hmmm.
I can just imagine Adolf making his appearance on the back of a Sprinter.
No slow/stately/dignified entrance for him: it would be Der Fuhrer hammering round the arena on the back of the Merc at maximum velocity, being bounced unceremoniously around, whilst tailgaiting Goebells' state car, flashing it's lights and jabbing the brakes as if the driver is having an epileptic seizure.
I can just imagine Adolf making his appearance on the back of a Sprinter.
No slow/stately/dignified entrance for him: it would be Der Fuhrer hammering round the arena on the back of the Merc at maximum velocity, being bounced unceremoniously around, whilst tailgaiting Goebells' state car, flashing it's lights and jabbing the brakes as if the driver is having an epileptic seizure.
E30M3SE said:
Let's wait see if that actually happens, as what I have read is that,
" The 1er will remain a rear-wheel drive vehicle and shares the same L7 architecture as the next 3 series. At the same time, the L7 has the flexible firewall location geometry that will allow it to accommodate FWD, RWD, or AWD models."
As I understand it, BMW have already announced that some of the next generation 1-series will be FWD. Specifically the estate version will be FWD only, the hatch will be available as both, and the coupe and cab will be RWD only. " The 1er will remain a rear-wheel drive vehicle and shares the same L7 architecture as the next 3 series. At the same time, the L7 has the flexible firewall location geometry that will allow it to accommodate FWD, RWD, or AWD models."
Does seem odd if true, though. I would have thought producing hatchbacks as both would be prohibitively expensive.
yellowbentines said:
KenBlocksPants said:
Jaguar?
Possibly the only ones I can think of.
Where does the x-type diesel estate fit into their brand heritage!Possibly the only ones I can think of.
OK, so it's not really, really fast, but neither was this, and I don't think anyone would disagree that it wasn't a 'real Jaguar':
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